ICNA Thanks Community & Reiterates its Demands

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—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—

LOS ANGELES, California (March 22, 2011) – The Islamic Circle of North America, Southern California Chapter (ICNA-SC) thanks the residents of Orange County for their support against Islamophobic statements made by OC elected officials on February 13, 2011.
ICNA-SC also appreciates various leaders and organizations from across the political and religious spectrum that have supported its call for a rally today against the hateful remarks of these elected officials, particularly those of Councilwoman Deborah Pauly. We demand the City Council of Villa Park publicly censure Ms. Deborah Pauly for her comments against American Muslims.

We intend to continue its projects in the areas of social service and education with even more resolve than ever before. We are now building coalitions and partnerships with various organizations to counter rising hate and Islamophobia in Orange County.

ICNA-SC along with its partner organizations also intends to challenge the GOP-OC to check rising hate and bigotry within its officials. We demand the GOP-OC relieve Ms. Deborah Pauly of her position as Vice Chair and clarify its position on the hateful and bigoted remarks made by her and Councilman John Anderson against American Muslims. We would also like the GOP-OC to note that the residents of OC are no longer willing to tolerate such bigotry in our midst.

ICNA thanks the following organizations that responded to its invitation to the rally and its request to endorse it (in alphabetical order):
American Civil Liberties Union – Orange County, Answer – LA, Code Pink – LA, Easy Yolk Progressive Christianity, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, Jewish Voices for Peace, LA Jews for Peace, Los Amigos of Orange County, Orange County Peace Coalition, Peace and Freedom Party – Orange County, and the Villa Park Peace Coalition.

For official updates from ICNA please follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/icna and visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/icna.

The Islamic Circle of North America is a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the application of Islamic values. Since 1968, ICNA has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts.